Oregon Construction Contractors Board proposes $75 fee increase for licensing renewal

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on General Government convened on April 16, 2025, to discuss Senate Bill 5510, which proposes a fee increase for the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB). The bill seeks to raise the renewal fee for contractor licenses from $325 to $400 for a two-year license, effective July 1, 2024. This is the first fee increase since February 2010, and the CCB anticipates generating approximately $1.4 million in additional revenue for the 2023-2025 biennium and $2.8 million for the 2025-2027 biennium.

During the meeting, Co-Chair Gorsuch and Co-Chair Smith led the discussion, emphasizing the necessity of the fee increase to maintain the CCB's operations and services. The statute requires that any new agency fees or increases be authorized by enabling legislation, which is the purpose of this bill.

However, the proposal faced opposition from some committee members, particularly from the Republican caucus, which has taken a stance against approving any fee increases at this time. Representative Reschke expressed concerns about the impact of government fees on inflation and the financial burden on contractors and consumers. He argued that passing along costs through fee increases is not a sustainable solution for making Oregon more affordable.

In contrast, Representative Tran highlighted the importance of maintaining adequate funding for the CCB to ensure compliance and consumer protection in the construction industry. He stressed that reducing funding could lead to slower processing times for licenses and decreased enforcement of regulations, ultimately compromising safety and quality in construction.

Chris Huntington, the CCB administrator, defended the fee increase, stating that the agency has already made significant efforts to operate efficiently with limited resources. He warned that without the fee increase, the CCB would face challenges in providing essential services, including enforcement and consumer protection.

The discussion concluded with a call for a roll call vote to ensure that the bill receives full consideration before moving to the Ways and Means full committee. The outcome of this vote will determine the future of the proposed fee increase and its implications for the construction industry in Oregon.